Uniteds Youth Policy vs Others ?

[Game_of_Throw-Ins]

Watching the Fulham game last night and admiring the ability of their young superstar Ryan Sessegnon and wondered why The Blades seem to protect their prodigious talented young played when other Clubs seem to follow the mantra if you are good enough you’re old enough ?


Just quickly comparing Sessegnon and Brooks ( and yes I’m aware he’s missed the last couple of months with Glandular Fever ) and their paths seem totally different.


David Brooks is 20 now and over the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons he’s made just 11 League appearances for us and scored 2 goals.


Sessegnon at Fulham is still only 17 years old ( so you’d imagine he’d need more protecting than a 20 year old ) and over the same 2016/17 and 2017/18 season he’s played 57 league matches, scoring 17 goals and assisting many others.


There are other cases too like Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is now 20 years old and as an 18 year old we only used him only 11 times in the league between 2014 & 2017, then sell him to Everton for £1.5m.


Almost immediately he’s part of The England U20 World Cup Winning Team, scores in the final and Everton play him in Premiership matches 36 times in one and a half seasons.


Just wondered others thoughts about why we don’t get the talented youth into our ranks earlier ?

 

[super_pig]

Watching the Fulham game last night and admiring the ability of their young superstar Ryan Sessegnon and wondered why The Blades seem to protect their prodigious talented young played when other Clubs seem to follow the mantra if you are good enough you’re old enough ?


Just quickly comparing Sessegnon and Brooks ( and yes I’m aware he’s missed the last couple of months with Glandular Fever ) and their paths seem totally different.


David Brooks is 20 now and over the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons he’s made just 11 League appearances for us and scored 2 goals.


Sessegnon at Fulham is still only 17 years old ( so you’d imagine he’d need more protecting than a 20 year old ) and over the same 2016/17 and 2017/18 season he’s played 57 league matches, scoring 17 goals and assisting many others.


There are other cases too like Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is now 20 years old and as an 18 year old we only used him only 11 times in the league between 2014 & 2017, then sell him to Everton for £1.5m.


Almost immediately he’s part of The England U20 World Cup Winning Team, scores in the final and Everton play him in Premiership matches 36 times in one and a half seasons.


Just wondered others thoughts about why we don’t get the talented youth into our ranks earlier ?

good question. Sessignon is a bit special though to be fair.. although i did find it weird DCL (not good enough for us) walked straight into the Everton first 11

 

[Rodley]

Sessignon will be the next Bale. Not worth comparing him to someone else, he’s different gravy.

 

[Ricky]

Athleticism is the main difference between Sessegnon and Brooks. Physically he was ready when he was 16.

Brooks should have still played more for us though. It's mad that he didn't play at all in L1 last season.

From now on he should be in the team, when fit.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Brooks was an incredibly late starter physically. So it’s not like for like.

He may be 21 but he’s probably more like a 17 or 18 year old physically, so it’s wise to treat him differently to other 21 year olds.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Young players physically develop at different rates. DCL went on loan to Northampton and did quite well.He was loaned around the non league circuit before that. He was exposed to first team football quite early.Brooks is a very late developer physically, which is one of the main reasons we're lucky enough to have him.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Athleticism is the main difference between Sessegnon and Brooks. Physically he was ready when he was 16.

Brooks should have still played more for us though. It's mad that he didn't play at all in L1 last season.

From now on he should be in the team, when fit.

It’s not mad at all.
United had to gain promotion at any cost, developing players and planning for the future weren’t a factor.
The bottom lime was promotion at any cost;

The team was playing well and winning, so why change anything taking risks.

Once the play-offs have gone this season then Wilder will start experimenting and taking risks with one eye on developing players and tactics for next season. Agree with the general idea to involve Brooks more and I’m sure that will happen.

 

[SwissBlade]

Brooks was an incredibly late starter physically. So it’s not like for like.

He may be 21 but he’s probably more like a 17 or 18 year old physically, so it’s wise to treat him differently to other 21 year olds.

Brooks also joined us when he was released from Man City, so we had to work on turning him into a proper footballer... i.e weening him off Mountain Dew/ Powerade and getting him pissed on Peroni

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Sessegnon's a better player and the jury's still out on DCL who seems to run around a lot for Everton but very rarely scores.
Maguire and Walker both played at a relatively early age, though Walker could probably have played even earlier given his ability and strength.

 

[Ricky]

It’s not mad at all.
United had to gain promotion at any cost, developing players and planning for the future weren’t a factor.
The bottom lime was promotion at any cost;

The team was playing well and winning, so why change anything taking risks.

Once the play-offs have gone this season then Wilder will start experimenting and taking risks with one eye on developing players and tactics for next season. Agree with the general idea to involve Brooks more and I’m sure that will happen.

Done, O'Shea and Scougall were in the squad ahead of him. I'd say that's pretty mad.

 

[stringer]

Done, O'Shea and Scougall were in the squad ahead of him. I'd say that's pretty mad.

Yes, with Brooks they might have won the league! Oh wait

 

[Game_of_Throw-Ins]

Done, O'Shea and Scougall were in the squad ahead of him. I'd say that's pretty mad.

Yes - I’d agree with that ...

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

why we don’t get the talented youth into our ranks earlier ?

Maybe they're just not good enough?
Maybe we have older, more talented players already in the first team?
Maybe, they're just ready, be it a lack of physical strength, maturity, intelligence?

I haven't the answer(s).... as supporters we can only put our trust/faith in the judgement of those who see these players every day.

 

[MiserableBlader]

Sessegnon's a better player and the jury's still out on DCL who seems to run around a lot for Everton but very rarely scores.
Maguire and Walker both played at a relatively early age, though Walker could probably have played even earlier given his ability and strength.

The jury's not out on DCL. Never has been from those who saw him from young. It's just a question of what his best position is.
He would be kin brilliant for us at right wing back for instance giving the quality crosses we need and chipping in with goals.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

The jury's not out on DCL. Never has been from those who saw him from young. It's just a question of what his best position is.
He would be kin brilliant for us at right wing back for instance giving the quality crosses we need and chipping in with goals.

I can still see people in 5 years time with DCL still featuring regularly at Everton saying that they still don’t think he’ll make it in the Premier League.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Watching the Fulham game last night and admiring the ability of their young superstar Ryan Sessegnon and wondered why The Blades seem to protect their prodigious talented young played when other Clubs seem to follow the mantra if you are good enough you’re old enough ?


Just quickly comparing Sessegnon and Brooks ( and yes I’m aware he’s missed the last couple of months with Glandular Fever ) and their paths seem totally different.


David Brooks is 20 now and over the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons he’s made just 11 League appearances for us and scored 2 goals.


Sessegnon at Fulham is still only 17 years old ( so you’d imagine he’d need more protecting than a 20 year old ) and over the same 2016/17 and 2017/18 season he’s played 57 league matches, scoring 17 goals and assisting many others.


There are other cases too like Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is now 20 years old and as an 18 year old we only used him only 11 times in the league between 2014 & 2017, then sell him to Everton for £1.5m.


Almost immediately he’s part of The England U20 World Cup Winning Team, scores in the final and Everton play him in Premiership matches 36 times in one and a half seasons.


Just wondered others thoughts about why we don’t get the talented youth into our ranks earlier ?

In the last few years we had both Harry Maguire and George Long make roughly 100 appearances each for us as teenagers.

 

[coolhandluke]

In the last few years we had both Harry Maguire and George Long make roughly 100 appearances each for us as teenagers.

Come on Brownie for fucks sake . That's never been a stick to twat the club with .

Must do better .

 

[Deleted member 875]

Come on Brownie for fucks sake . That's never been a stick to twat the club with .

Must do better .

If you can say that we was unwilling to invest and had to throw two teenagers in to the squad, then it can quite easily be used as a stick to beat the club with.

 

[Wards]

Assuming he’s fit then there’s really no reason not to play Brooks now. Should be getting as much experience as possible between now and the end of the season.

 

[sufcboy95]

Bearing in mind brooks still doesn’t look physically strong, I hate to imagine what he would’ve been like at 17/18 compared to first team players

 

[finlaytheblade]

Watching the Fulham game last night and admiring the ability of their young superstar Ryan Sessegnon and wondered why The Blades seem to protect their prodigious talented young played when other Clubs seem to follow the mantra if you are good enough you’re old enough ?


Just quickly comparing Sessegnon and Brooks ( and yes I’m aware he’s missed the last couple of months with Glandular Fever ) and their paths seem totally different.


David Brooks is 20 now and over the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons he’s made just 11 League appearances for us and scored 2 goals.


Sessegnon at Fulham is still only 17 years old ( so you’d imagine he’d need more protecting than a 20 year old ) and over the same 2016/17 and 2017/18 season he’s played 57 league matches, scoring 17 goals and assisting many others.


There are other cases too like Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is now 20 years old and as an 18 year old we only used him only 11 times in the league between 2014 & 2017, then sell him to Everton for £1.5m.


Almost immediately he’s part of The England U20 World Cup Winning Team, scores in the final and Everton play him in Premiership matches 36 times in one and a half seasons.


Just wondered others thoughts about why we don’t get the talented youth into our ranks earlier ?

Occasionally young players break through at a very young age maturity has a big part to play in this,usually they are very mature for there age Wayne Rooney is a classic example. It's not always the case though for occasionaly a young player breaks through who is just too good to hold back,Dennis Law ,Trevor Francis and G Best are three players who broke into -1st team football at 16 year olds.They are rare though.
One thing for sure if a manager feels a very young player will do the business they will pick him,even if it is not in the best interests of the player.thankfully United don't rush them too quickly.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Bearing in mind brooks still doesn’t look physically strong, I hate to imagine what he would’ve been like at 17/18 compared to first team players

 

[wizadry]

I can still see people in 5 years time with DCL still featuring regularly at Everton saying that they still don’t think he’ll make it in the Premier League.

Everton could quite easily be the next huge club who have always been in the Premier league to be relegated, we’ll within that timescale. I take your point though.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

View attachment 37249

Is that a shot from Kes?

 

[super_pig]

Is that a shot from Kes?

who is the little lad??

 

[norfolkblade]

Difference for me is physicality. Sessegnon is essentially a boy in a man's body and has the talent to boot. Serious player. Southgate could do much worse than to consider him for the plane to Russia this summer, he's arguably one of the best English left sided players in the country. I'm wasting my breath though, we all know it'll be someone like Luke Shaw who goes

 

[snootyfenooty]

Bearing in mind brooks still doesn’t look physically strong,

Stature is all in the head. Best, Bremner, Ball, there was more fat on a chip and they all excelled. If Brooks doesn't feature between now and the end of the season I can only imagine United have been "instructed" by Spurs or whoever to keep him wrapped in cotton wool until July.

 

[FlamingLip]

how many young 'stars' have slipped through the net and gone elsewhere due to 'our policy'? DCL was a financial decision based on club interests at the time - pretty sure our staff rated him and were fully aware of his potential. united have introduced youth based on individual cases not some standard policy, and we've done well. really well in comparison to other clubs.

 

[Silent Blade]

Watching the Fulham game last night and admiring the ability of their young superstar Ryan Sessegnon and wondered why The Blades seem to protect their prodigious talented young played when other Clubs seem to follow the mantra if you are good enough you’re old enough ?


Just quickly comparing Sessegnon and Brooks ( and yes I’m aware he’s missed the last couple of months with Glandular Fever ) and their paths seem totally different.


David Brooks is 20 now and over the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons he’s made just 11 League appearances for us and scored 2 goals.


Sessegnon at Fulham is still only 17 years old ( so you’d imagine he’d need more protecting than a 20 year old ) and over the same 2016/17 and 2017/18 season he’s played 57 league matches, scoring 17 goals and assisting many others.


There are other cases too like Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is now 20 years old and as an 18 year old we only used him only 11 times in the league between 2014 & 2017, then sell him to Everton for £1.5m.


Almost immediately he’s part of The England U20 World Cup Winning Team, scores in the final and Everton play him in Premiership matches 36 times in one and a half seasons.


Just wondered others thoughts about why we don’t get the talented youth into our ranks earlier ?

I will give you a short answer...

Everyone is different!

 

[mancunianblade]

I know kids grow up quickly and 4 years is a long time but this was David Brookes 4/5 years ago. He was 3 weeks shy of his 16th in this photo..